Begonia plant named ‘KRHARPI01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRHARPI01’ characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; double flowers that are pinkish red in color and held above the foliar plane; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRHARPI01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially referred to as an Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRHARPI01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Begonia plants with excellent postproduction longevity and attractive flower color.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands in January, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code number KV01K0172-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in September, 2011. Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by leaf cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since January, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRHARPI01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRHARPI01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Double flowers that are pinkish red in color and held above         the foliar plane.     -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have salmon orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have light red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Dark Netja’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Dark Netja’ in flower color as plants of ‘Dark Netja’ have light pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Begonia have double flowers whereas plants of ‘Dark Netja’ have semi-double flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Elektra Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,967. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Elektra Pink’ in flower color as plants of ‘Elektra Pink’ have lighter-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRHARPI01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper (right) and lower (left) surfaces of typical leaves and flowers of ‘KRHARPI01’ and in the center of the photograph is a close-up view of typical flower buds and pedicel.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 12-cm containers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘KRHARPI01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Begonia×tuberhybrida hybrid identified as code number             KV01K0172-001, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orange             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; overall plant shape,             globular.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 12-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             ten weeks are required to produce proportional plants in             12-cm containers.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching with about four             primary branches each with about two secondary branches.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 34.7 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 3.3 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect: About 20° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to             144B. Color, developed: Close to between 144B and 146C.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             16.2 cm. Width: About 11.3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Oblique, lobes free. Margin: Coarsely bi-crenate to             serrate; strongly undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; moderately             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent along venation; moderately glossy. Venation             pattern: Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             147C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C, strongly             tinged with close to 176A; venation, close to 146A.             Petioles: Length: About 7.1 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.             Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144B; distally, close to between             176B and 177A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B to 144C;             distally, slightly tinged with close to 176B. Stipules:             Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly             ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 179D; venation, close to 180C to 180D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and flowering habit.—Fully double rotate             flowers with four tepals and numerous tepaloids; flowers             arranged in axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit             with typically about seven flowers per cyme and about 170             flowers and flower buds developing per plant; many cymes in             flower simultaneously; flowers positioned above the foliar             plane and face upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             weeks after planting; plants will flower year round             regardless of nyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and             more abundantly from spring into the autumn in The             Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; excellent             postproduction longevity, plants maintain good substance for             about five weeks in an interior environment.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.3 cm.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Rotate, fully double. Diameter: About             6.8 cm. Depth (height): About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 cm to             2.1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to nearly circular, flattened.             Texture and luster: Glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 50C.         -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Usually about             four per flower arranged in two whorls. Length, lower             tepals: About 3.5 cm. Width, lower tepals: About 4.2 cm.             Length, upper tepals: About 2.9 cm. Width, upper tepals:             About 2.9 cm. Shape, lower tepals: Reniform. Shape, upper             tepals: Broadly ovate to broadly obovate. Apex, all tepals:             Rounded. Base, all tepals: Rounded. Margin, lower tepals:             Entire; slightly undulate. Margin, upper tepals: Entire;             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface,             lower tepals: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface, lower tepals: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces, upper tepals: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Color, all tepals: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 50B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 50C; towards the margins, close to 50B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 47C and 50B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 52C;             towards the margins, close to 52B; venation, similar to             lamina color; color does not change with development.         -   Tepaloids.—Quantity and arrangement per flower: Usually             about 25 per flower arranged in about five whorls. Length:             About 1.2 cm to 2.1 cm. Width: About 0.7 cm to 2.1 cm.             Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded to shallowly cleft.             Base: Broadly attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 50C; towards the base, close to 1B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to between 50B and 52B to 52C;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 50C;             venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change             with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.9 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm to             5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20° from             lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 145A tinged with close to 153D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About             1.9 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             146C to 146D tinged with close to 180B to 180C; venation,             close to 152B to 152C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C             to 146D; venation, close to 152B to 152C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed as reproductive organs are not formed. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRHARPI01’ as illustrated and described. 